St. Patty’s Day Brawl scheduled for March 8

If the boxing revival in Scranton hasn't brought the sport entirely back to the area, it is certainly well on its way.

Professional boxing returned to the area in December 2012 after a nearly five-year absence. A second card following in August and a third, the St. Patty's Day Brawl, is set for March 8 at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center.

"I don't think (boxing) is officially all the way back but it's certainly going in the right direction," Northeast Boxing promoter Chris Coyne said.

The organization is also planning three more professional and amateur boxing cards this year.

"Our next show is set for early to mid summer," Coyne said. "We want to keep it fresh and keep the local kids fighting."

Coyne said that keeping fighters active draws crowds but it also helps the boxers' chances of competing.

"Keeping our kids active is the key. Otherwise we can't compete," he said. "They are trying to compete with kids from Harrisburg, Allentown and Philadelphia that fight every eight weeks. We have to pick up our pace and we have to get the boxing element back. The crowds are back."

The March card is set to feature six to seven professional bouts featuring local boxers R.J. Sockwell, Stephon Burgette, Rex Harris and Lamont Capers as well as former Scranton police officer Jason Gavern, who has more than 40 professional bouts - many in Europe - including a win against former champion James Toney in November in London. Gavern fought on the August card in his hometown for the first time in five years and scored a first-round TKO.

"Gavern loved fighting here last time," Coyne said. "He saw we were doing a card and he wanted in. Having a heavyweight with more than 40 fights gives the card some legitimacy."

The professional boxers will be joined on the card by eight or nine amateur fights featuring locals Howard Sweeney, Dawry Aquino, Ian Brofsky and Rocky Marzan. Also among the amateurs scheduled to fight is all-state and Times-Tribune All-Region running back Daiqwon Buckley of Dunmore.

The local gyms participating are Swoyersville Boxing Club, Old Forge Warriors at Balance Combat, Scranton Boxing and MMA, Tri State Boxing and MMA and the Irish Boxing Club.

"Over the last couple of years, mixed martial arts took over the boxing demographic," Coyne said. "The boxing crowd is an older crowd. With this crop of younger fighters and younger professionals it gives us the chance to build boxing back up with the younger crowd. The gyms getting more guys in is putting us in the right direction. We want to keep the young guys active and fighting and winning and I'll continue to do my part."

Contact the writer: hsmith@timesshamrock.com

If you go

What: St. Patty's Day Brawl boxing card

WHEN: March 8, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, 100 Adams Ave.

TICKETS: Reserved seating starts at $35 and general admission costs $30 and can be purchased at:

n Dooley's Pub & Eatery, 120 Oak St., Old Forge

n Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, 100 Adams Ave.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.